Process for attaching indicator element to disposable garment

Abstract

In a process for attaching indicator elements onto a disposable garment, indication sheets with indicator elements and liquid-absorbent cores are fed onto inner and outer surfaces of an outer layer web. A rear half of the front one of the adjacent sheets is placed upon a front end zone of the core and a front half of the rear one of the adjacent sheets is placed upon a rear end zone of the core. The sheet is joined to the outer layer web, the core is joined to the inner and outer layer webs, and the webs are joined together. The sheet is cut together with the webs between the adjacent cores to form laminated panels with indicator elements in front and rear regions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process of attaching indicator elements to front and rear regions of a disposable garment comprising a laminated panel which comprises an outer layer web lying on a side adapted to face away from a wearer's body in use, an inner layer web lying on a side adapted to face said wearer's body in use, and a liquid-absorbent core interposed between said outer layer web and said inner layer web, said indicator elements being visible from an exterior of said panel, said process comprising the steps of:
 feeding a plurality of indication sheets each extending in a machine direction and having said indicator elements in front and rear halves thereof, at regular intervals onto a continuous first outer layer web running in said machine direction, while feeding a plurality of said liquid-absorbent cores each extending in said machine direction and having a front end zone, a rear end zone and an intermediate zone, at regular intervals onto one of an inner surface of said continuous first outer layer web and an inner surface of a continuous inner layer web running in said machine direction; 
 placing said intermediate zone of one said core between each pair of said indication sheets adjacent to each other in said machine direction so that the rear half of a front one of said adjacent indication sheets is placed upon said front end zone of said core, and a front half of a rear one of said adjacent indication sheets is placed upon said rear end zone of said core; 
 joining each said indication sheet to said first outer layer web, joining each said core to at least one of said inner layer web and said first outer layer web, and joining inner surfaces of said inner layer web and said first outer layer web which are overlaid upon each other; and 
 cutting said indication sheets together with said inner and first outer layer webs in a cross direction between each pair of said cores adjacent to each other in said machine direction, so that each said indication sheet is divided into said front and rear halves to form a plurality of said laminated panels arranged in said machine direction and having said indicator elements in the respective front and rear regions. 
 
     
     
       2. The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of
 placing an inner surface of a continuous second outer layer web running in said machine direction upon said outer surface of said first outer layer web; and 
 joining said first and second outer layer webs; 
 wherein, at the cutting step, each said indication sheet is cut together with said first and second outer layer webs and said inner layer web in said cross direction between the respective pair of adjacent cores. 
 
     
     
       3. The process according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of attaching first and second stretchable elastic members in a stretched state to said inner surface of said first outer layer web or said inner layer web;
 said first stretchable elastic members lying between said adjacent cores and extending in said cross direction; and 
 said second stretchable elastic members lying on both lateral sides of each said core and extending in said machine direction. 
 
     
     
       4. The process according to  claim 2 , further comprising the step of attaching first and second stretchable elastic members in a stretched state to said outer surface of said first outer layer web or said inner surface of said second outer layer web;
 said first stretchable elastic members lying between said adjacent cores and extending in said cross direction; and 
 said second stretchable elastic members lying on both lateral sides of each said core and extending in the machine direction. 
 
     
     
       5. The process according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said first and second outer layer webs are formed by one of (i) a moisture-permeable and hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric and (ii) a moisture-permeable and liquid-impervious plastic film; and 
 said inner layer web is formed by a hydrophilic fibrous nonwoven fabric. 
 
     
     
       6. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein each said indication sheet is formed by one of (i) a moisture-permeable and hydrophobic fibrous nonwoven fabric and (ii) a moisture-permeable and liquid-impervious plastic film. 
     
     
       7. The process according to  claim 1 , wherein said indicator elements comprise a pair of illustrations respectively printed on said the front and rear halves of the respective indication sheet and adjacent to each other in said machine direction. 
     
     
       8. The process according to  claim 7 , wherein said illustrations are in mirror image relationship with each other in said machine direction.